Inclusive Highways project supports Bolivian families

SNV, CAF Latin American Development Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and ICCO (the Interchurch Organisation for the Development Cooperation) met at CAF in La Paz, Bolivia on January 26 to sign an agreement for the launch of the “Inclusive Highways” pilot project.

SNV will implement the project “Inclusive Highways”, which will benefit rural populations located along the La Paz-Oruro Highway, an infrastructure project financed by CAF. The project will improve the productive skills and income of nearly 600 families. The initiative is being funded by 

CAF (Development Bank of Latin America) Development, UNDP (ART GOLD), ICCO, and the AVINA Foundation.

The Inclusive Highways project (“La Doble Vía Inclusiva” in Spanish) will help ensure that the 200 kilometre roadway project financed by CAF will not just be another infrastructure project, but will help bring sustainable development to nearby communities which are largely characterised by high rates of poverty. In the highlands region of Bolivia over 87% of the population lives in poverty and 47% in extreme poverty, figures that are much higher than the national level.

SNV will promote sustainable development in the area with economic projects using its Inclusive Business model, which SNV has pioneered in the Latin America region. Inclusive Business consists of incorporating low-income populations into the value chain of a private business as producers, suppliers or consumers in a win-win, mutually respectful relationship. For the Inclusive Highway Program, SNV will conduct economic analyses of the communities, identify opportunities for Inclusive Businesses, design at least six Inclusive Businesses, conduct impact measurement, disseminate and systematise results, and provide public policy recommendations. As a result of the project, productive enterprises will be established that will allow area families to increase their income by a projected 20%. SNV also plans to achieve a 10% increase in volume, quality and value in production.

This news has also appeared in several Spanish-language news sources including: La Prensa Bolivia, Agencia de Noticia Fides, and Los Tiempos.